Overview

Discover the beauty and resilience of the cinnamon fern bare roots, a fantastic addition to any garden or landscape. This offering includes a pack of 10 live cinnamon fern bare roots, each measuring between 3 to 6 inches long, providing a robust foundation for growth. Known scientifically as Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, the cinnamon fern is cherished for its striking, upright fronds that unfurl in spring, bringing a vibrant green hue to shaded areas. These ferns are particularly admired for their unique fertile fronds, which emerge in a distinctive cinnamon color in early summer, adding an intriguing textural and color contrast to your plant arrangements. Perfect for naturalizing in woodland gardens, along stream banks, or in shaded borders, these bare roots are a cost-effective and efficient way to establish a beautiful fern colony that will thrive for years.

Our live cinnamon fern plants are carefully harvested as bare roots, ensuring they are ready to be planted directly into your garden. This method allows for easier transportation and quicker establishment once planted, as the plant can immediately focus its energy on developing a strong root system in its new environment. These ferns are native to wetlands and moist woodlands across eastern North America, making them exceptionally hardy and adaptable to various outdoor conditions, particularly in zones where they can receive consistent moisture. Their graceful arching fronds can reach impressive heights, creating a dramatic visual impact and providing excellent ground cover or a lush backdrop for other shade-loving perennials. Embrace the timeless elegance and natural charm that the cinnamon fern brings to your outdoor living spaces.

Key Benefits

Adding cinnamon fern bare roots to your garden offers a multitude of benefits, both aesthetic and ecological, making them an excellent choice for a wide range of landscaping projects. These ferns are not only beautiful but also remarkably easy to care for once established.

• Stunning Ornamental Value: The upright, bright green fronds provide dramatic texture and color, especially in shaded garden areas. The unique cinnamon-colored fertile fronds offer seasonal interest, standing out beautifully against the green foliage.
• Adaptable to Shade: These ferns thrive in partial to full shade, making them ideal for challenging garden spots where many flowering plants struggle. They are perfect for creating lush, green understories beneath trees or along north-facing walls.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, live cinnamon fern plants require minimal care. They are generally pest and disease resistant and do not require frequent pruning, making them a great choice for busy gardeners.
• Naturalizes Easily: Cinnamon ferns readily spread by rhizomes, forming dense colonies over time. This makes them excellent for naturalizing large areas, erosion control on slopes, or creating a woodland feel in your backyard.
• Enhances Biodiversity: Ferns provide habitat and shelter for various small wildlife and insects, contributing to the ecological balance of your garden. Their dense growth can also help suppress weeds.
• Hardy and Resilient: With a broad USDA Hardiness Zone range of 4 to 8, these ferns are incredibly resilient to cold temperatures and can withstand a variety of environmental conditions, ensuring long-term enjoyment.
• Long-Lived Perennial: Unlike annuals, growing cinnamon fern means investing in a plant that will return year after year, growing larger and more magnificent with each passing season, providing enduring beauty.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for establishing and maintaining healthy cinnamon fern bare roots. These ferns are quite forgiving once settled, but a good start is crucial. When planting your live cinnamon fern plants, select a location that receives partial to full shade. While they can tolerate some morning sun, intense afternoon sun will scorch their fronds. The ideal spot mimics their natural woodland habitat, offering dappled light or deep shade. Ensure the soil is consistently moist but well-draining. These ferns are accustomed to the rich, organic soils found in forest floors, so amending your planting site with plenty of compost or leaf mold will provide the best environment for robust growth. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain too much water, as this can lead to root rot.

Watering is perhaps the most critical aspect of cinnamon fern care, especially during the establishment phase and dry spells. The soil should never be allowed to dry out completely. Regular, deep watering is preferred over frequent, shallow watering. For newly planted bare roots, keep the soil consistently moist for the first growing season. Once established, they are somewhat more tolerant of brief dry periods but will always perform best with consistent moisture. The USDA Hardiness Zone for these ferns is 4 to 8, indicating excellent cold tolerance. They can withstand winter temperatures well below freezing, and their fronds typically die back in late fall, reappearing fresh and vibrant in spring. Fertilization is not usually necessary for cinnamon ferns, especially if planted in rich, organic soil. If your soil is poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in spring can be beneficial. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can harm the plant.

Common problems for outdoor fern plants like the cinnamon fern are few. The primary concern is insufficient moisture, which can lead to browning fronds. Pests and diseases are rarely an issue, making them a relatively worry-free addition to your garden. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues in very humid environments. When planting the bare roots, dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and deep enough so the crown (where the fronds emerge) is at soil level. Backfill with amended soil, gently firming it around the roots, and water thoroughly. Mulching with shredded bark or leaf litter will help retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature, further aiding in the success of your cinnamon fern bare roots.

Size & Details

This offering provides a pack of 10 cinnamon fern bare roots, each carefully selected to ensure vigorous growth. The bare roots typically measure between 3 to 6 inches long, representing a healthy and established root system ready for planting. When mature, live cinnamon fern plants can reach an impressive height of 2 to 5 feet tall and spread 2 to 3 feet wide, forming a substantial clump of elegant foliage. Their growth rate is moderate, meaning they will establish and expand at a steady pace, gradually filling in your chosen garden space. These plants are shipped as dormant bare roots, which is the ideal form for transplanting and minimizes shock, allowing them to focus energy on new growth once planted.

The cinnamon fern is a perennial plant, meaning it will return year after year, growing larger and more robust with each season. Expect to see the first delicate fronds emerge in early spring, quickly unfurling to their full glory. The distinctive cinnamon-colored spore stalks appear in early to mid-summer, persisting for several weeks before fading. These ferns are known for their longevity, providing many years of beauty and ecological benefit to your garden. They are particularly effective when mass planted, creating a stunning, uniform ground cover or a naturalized woodland edge. The bare root form allows for flexible planting arrangements, whether you’re creating a dense border or scattering them throughout a naturalized area.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these cinnamon fern bare roots get when mature? A: When mature, cinnamon fern bare roots can grow into impressive plants, typically reaching heights of 2 to 5 feet tall and spreading 2 to 3 feet wide. Their size makes them excellent for creating a lush, bold statement in your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The cinnamon fern bare roots are best suited for outdoor planting. They thrive in woodland garden settings, shaded borders, and other outdoor environments where their specific light and moisture needs can be met naturally.
• Q: How much sunlight does the cinnamon fern need? A: Cinnamon ferns prefer partial to full shade. While they can tolerate some morning sun, they will perform best in locations that receive dappled light or consistent shade throughout the day, mimicking their natural habitat.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: Your cinnamon fern bare roots will arrive dormant, carefully packaged to ensure their health during transit. They will appear as root systems without foliage, ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, cinnamon fern care is relatively easy once established, making them a good choice for beginners. Their primary needs are consistent moisture and shade, and they are generally pest and disease resistant.
• Q: When is the best time to plant cinnamon fern bare roots? A: The best time to plant cinnamon fern bare roots is in spring or early fall. This allows the roots to establish themselves before the extreme temperatures of summer or winter.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones are suitable for growing cinnamon fern? A: Cinnamon ferns are hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8, indicating they can tolerate a wide range of winter temperatures and are well-suited for many regions across the United States.
• Q: Do these plants require any special soil conditions? A: Yes, growing cinnamon fern thrives in consistently moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Amending your garden soil with compost or leaf mold will greatly benefit their growth.
• Q: How frequently should I water my newly planted cinnamon fern? A: For newly planted live cinnamon fern plants, it’s crucial to keep the soil consistently moist for the first growing season. Water deeply and regularly, ensuring the soil never completely dries out.
• Q: Will the cinnamon fern spread in my garden? A: Yes, cinnamon ferns are known to spread by rhizomes, forming dense clumps and colonies over time. This makes them excellent for naturalizing areas or creating a lush ground cover in shaded spots.